Opinion

The first installment of Work of Art, on May 1, 2003, declared that talk certainly is not cheap. In that column I mentioned paying more than $52, to listen to a woman, who spoke flawless Spanish, tell me my close relative had been detenida at a hotel in Tijuana.

If you have credit cards, like most of us, you’ve probably been getting mail from your card-issuing bank lately. A letter per card is what I’ve been getting during the course of a few weeks, advising me of changes they are going to make to the terms and conditions that govern the use of my card. “Adjustments,” they call it.

Las Vegas Mayor Tony Marquez announced last week that he wouldn’t run for another two-year term. That took us by surprise, given that he is an ambitious, relatively young man.

Promising to bring transparency and accountability to City Hall, Marquez came in with the support of many in the community. Indeed, this newspaper endorsed his candidacy. Perhaps the mayor really intended to keep his promises. But it didn’t work out that way.

During a weekend trip to Albuquerque, I noticed a billboard that read, “Doug Turner for Governor.”

You may be wondering, Who is Doug Turner?

Well, he is one of the several unknowns running as Republicans for governor. Your first reaction may be that he and the others may have no chance against the well-funded establishment favorite, Lt. Gov. Diane Denish, a Democrat.

Thumbs DOWN for ... HOMICIDES AND VIOLENCE. Three homicides in a single year — 10 in less than years — is a lot for a town the size of Las Vegas. In fact, it’s murder rate akin to Detroit’s, a big city with tremendous problems. So what’s causing it here?

We could speculate as to the causes — and there are many, we surmise — but let’s hope the anti-crime task force that Mayor Tony Marquez is putting together will provide the kind of insights that will help us address this continuing tragedy in 2010.

It troubles me that the New Mexico State Police in Las Vegas can take its time to complete and investigate an assault. (As of this writing) it has been over 12 days since my 75-year-old father was assaulted by two brothers in their 20s and yet my father is the victim and the two brothers, who assaulted him, are free.

These so-called visits with the citizens in Las Vegas by our new (hopefully one-term) Congressman Ben Ray Lujan are fake and only intended to make Mr. Lujan appear interested in what we have to say. He has held only one public town hall meeting — immediately after he was elected. Now, he comes to town and only meets with selected citizens (like George Bush used to do) or with those folks who happen to hear about it weeks ahead of time and make an appointment to speak to him for five minutes in private. Does he think he is the Pope or what?

For the last several years, the Optic has presented its New Year’s wishes for our community. Next year, our community will experience its share of progress and setbacks. We can’t predict them, but we have our hopes for 2010:

The City Council has unanimously rejected a proposal by Mayor Tony Marquez to open each meeting with an invocation, and rightfully so. There is no legal basis for including prayer at public meetings; there is, in fact, a legal basis to prohibit it. Thankfully the City Council has the good sense to reject this second attempt to inject religion into the public square.

I’m just writing to thank and praise Mr. Carlos Crespin and New Mexico State Silver Gloves committee for bringing the tournament to Las Vegas. Not only does it bring the up and rising boxing stars to the community but it also gives Las Vegas a little economic boost right before the holidays. Families from around the state and from out of state get to travel to Las Vegas and enjoy the amenities.

I understand the editorial (titled “Blaming the messenger”). However the Optic, on occasion, does seem to be very negative about Las Vegas in its coverage and editorials. For folks who read the paper because they visit Las Vegas, it does not come across as friendly. Especially if the paper and visits to town are the only way we interact with the citizens of Las Vegas.

When it comes to economic development, Las Vegas needs to put forward a united front. Anything less is unacceptable.

Recently, the Las Vegas First Independent Business Alliance told the city Lodgers Tax Advisory Board that it is interested in vying for the city contract held by the Las Vegas-San Miguel Chamber of Commerce. It made arguments about how it could take on that role — its marketing plan in place, its relationships with various agencies, its securing of discounted rates for the placement of advertisements.

Editor’s note: This editorial first appeared here on Christmas Day 2007.

We don’t think a secular, general circulation newspaper is the place to advance any one religious belief. It isn’t appropriate or even right to push our faith off on good people who believe differently. And, frankly, inclusiveness is consistent with our view that there are many paths to the Truth, and our search isn’t the only way to get there.

Parent Night or Open House was held on Monday, Oct. 19, at West Las Vegas High School. Parents were invited to meet and speak with their children’s teachers regarding grades, attendance, or any other matter in regard to their child’s education. Sign-in sheets in the front lobby indicated that 302 parents attended the event.